Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-27
A VERY QUEER CASE.
DANBURY'S DUMMY" "A PHYSlO-
LOGICAL WONDER.

Two Living Persons-Doomed to Gem
eraI Dumbness by an Inexorable Psy-
ARCHAEOLOGICAL Law.
For some time the pre-eminent interest Of
this old Connecticut town has centered in a
resident who is, from physiological and
psychological view, wonder. His strange
ness can only be accounted for in the light of
a maternal ante-natal experience, which seems
to influence ell his biological phenomena.
John Tice, or Dummy" as he is generally
called, aged about so, resides in the eastern
part Of Danbury. He is farm hand, engaged
most of the time in the service of Mrs Ryder,
who owns farm in the outskirts. "Dummy's"
sobriquet indicates less than half truth, for
he converses readily enough with two persons,
but is absolutely unable to talk to any one
else on earth. This statement necessitates
retrospect
"Dummy's" mother, according to undis-
puted witnesses, was amaZonian, in1exible,
vindictive, unrelenting. Her animosities
were as bitter as her friendships were en-
during. Her husband was shiftless, indolent,
poor provider and bibulous, often arousing
her wrath. About six months before "Dum-
nly's' birth her husband committed an act so
heinous in her eyes as fairly to stife the ac-
| customed torrent of her vituperation. In her
fury she could only sulk and humble and
grind her teeth. Finally her suppressed rage
| found vent in a single sentence:
"You brutel I'll never speak to you again
to my dying dayl"
Until after the birth of her child she nursed
her wrath and kept her word She spoke,
indeed, to no one except to her mother, to her
friend. Mrs. Mccain, young widow, and
the latter's little daughter. The Nemesis that
has pursued Dummy" through life first NAH
ifested its presence in infancy. When alone
| with his mother, Mrs. Mccain or her daugh-
ter, Johnny was able without any more diff
| Guilty than other children of his age to frame
words and to unite them into sentences, but
to everybody else the child was utterly IN
able to articulate He was never able, try as
he might, to speak word to his father. AS
| he could not recite anything he was not sent
to school. He cannot read or write.
HE WAS NOT sHAM8uNG.
A party of roughs, some time ago, believ-
ing that he could but would not converse, in
weighed him to a secluded spot and threatened
him with death if he did not speak to them
and answer their questions. He could only
plead in dumb show for his life. Then they
beat and fearfully maltreated him, fully con-
| WINGED at last that he was not shamming.
| After his mothers death, he married one OF
| the two remaining persons he could talk to,
| the widow Mccain. He lives with her at
| the present time, conversing readily with her
| and her daughter, now Mrs. Pudgeley. A
| single incident will illustrate how he coElmu-
| nicateS with them.
A gentleman recently desired to buy one Of
| his ROSTERS and he called upon Dummy" and
| the latter's WIFE He made his offer to them
| and inquired whether it was accepted
ON take him one side and see what be says
| about it, she replied TO the visitor Then
| Dummy" and his wife went cut near an out
| house. beyond hearing, but the visitor could
| see "Dummys" lips moving and the par in
| evident conversation. Upon their return the
| woman accepted the offer in her husbands
name. He cannot converse with his wife i'll
another's presence. His hearing and under
standing are normal, and the two persons he
| can talk to say he manifests no difficulty in
| expressing himself to them clearly, nor in
enunciation.
Mrs. Ryder, for whom he works, in COM
| mon with all others who have had .elations
| with him, pronounces him good workman,
| faithful, intelligent, comprehending readily
| everything required OF MN, DuC doomed ID
| general dumbness by an memorable law ante
dating his birth. a physician, who takes
| great interest in the case and has examined
"Dummy's' throat, explains his physiological
difficulties as follows:
| There is always nervous excitement at
| tendant upon his efforts to speak before
| strangers. In ordinary speech the epiglottis
is distended and the Migratory chords are ex-
| banded. In his case they do not respond to
| the will \ sort Of paralysis exists In the
! absence of nervous excitement they would
! act normally and speech would follow
| This is the pathological view, but it does
not explain why speech is vouchsafed only
when addressing those his mother favored
just previous to his birth 1t does not ex-
plain the preternatural phases, which puzzle
| Psychologists c.nd scientists alike, and are the
| wonder of townsnen and strangers. Cor.
| Nnrl- World